The Cleveland Browns mapped out their preseason quarterback plan earlier this week when head coach Todd Monken named Deshaun Watson the starter against the Chicago Bears. It marked Watson’s first game since 2024, and he looked solid despite the long hiatus. Meanwhile, Shedeur Sanders delivered a usual mix of eye-catching plays and costly mistakes.
Following Cleveland’s 34-10 preseason loss, former NFL defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko pushed back against social media chatter demanding Sanders take over the starting job, arguing Watson remains Cleveland’s best option at QB1.
Breiden Fehoko Feels Deshaun Watson Should Remain QB1 For The Browns
Fehoko believed Watson gave Cleveland something more important than big moments: stability. While discussing the veteran’s performance, he explained why Watson’s presence made the offense easier to operate.
“I thought he played really well,” Fehoko said. “From a Todd Monken perspective, as I’m watching Deshaun Watson, he provides me the most stability on offense. They had easy offense while he was on the field.”
Watson completed 8-of-9 passes for 102 yards in the first quarter, eventually recording 126 passing yards for no touchdowns and no interceptions in the game.
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Watson also ran three times for four yards, although a strip-sack added one blemish to an otherwise encouraging return.
“He wasn’t Josh Allen. He wasn’t Houston Texans’ Deshaun Watson,” Fehoko added. “But for the most part, while they couldn’t get a run game going on first down, on his first coin drive, they started at first and 25, and he kept them ahead of the chains.
“He kept the chains moving; it easy offense and easy completions. He knew where to go with the ball, and he just stayed on script. Now, this play right here, this is why agendas are so stupid on social media, and a lot of you don’t know what you’re watching when you watch football.”
The real unbiased evaluation of Deshaun Watsons day yesterday. Enough with the agendas. https://t.co/2RWCS9JlXs pic.twitter.com/1HkKbnvAlq
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) August 16, 2026
This argument directly challenges fans’ rush to elevate Sanders, who ranked second-worst last season on PFN’s QB Impact Rankings, after one preseason outing.
Sanders completed 6-of-11 passes for 79 yards and threw a fourth-quarter interception. He showcased his downfield capability by connecting with Luke Floriea for a 35-yard completion under pressure but ultimately failed to lead a scoring drive.
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On the other hand, Watson has not played in nearly two years after undergoing back-to-back Achilles surgeries. Therefore, expecting a peak Watson would be unrealistic. Fehoko feels Watson has shown enough command, accuracy, and rhythm to give the Browns a stable option while the quarterback competition continues.
“It was so cool to watch him play,” Monken said of Watson’s return. “I mean, I get all of the frustration from fans, himself. But for him to come back and work like he did is an unbelievable credit to him.”
“He was having fun today. That is so cool, and I thought he really functioned at a high level. Certainly, we don’t want to be taking timeouts; we sure as heck can’t take a delay of games. But it was fun watching him play and watching us put the next step forward and see where we’re at.”
With Watson establishing a solid benchmark, the pressure shifts to Sanders next week. The second-year quarterback is slated to start and take first-team snaps in Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
